Safety shade and roller therefor



March 17, 1931. L, ALEWEL 1,796,426

SAFETY swam: AND ROLL-EB THEREFOR Filed Sept. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Shet 1 g/gamw 47- roEA EK //v Mam/roe.-

March 17, 1931. ALEWEL 1,796,426

SAFETYSHADE AND ROLLER THEREFOR Filed p 1929 2 Sheets$heet 2 //v wen/roe;

LOU/J 4 1,6 14/51..

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 I Unitas stares rarest eerie];

LOUIS ALEWEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI SAFETY SHADE AND ROLLER THEREFOR Application filed September 12, 1929. Serial No. 392,067.

My invention relates to improvements in Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the roller safety shades and rollers therefor, and has after it has been formed; for its primary object a shade which is Fig. l is a section taken on the line H designed to have one part attached to a door of Fig. 1; 5 frame adjacent the hinges of the door and Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 55 the other part to the'door itself so that ofFig. 2; when the door is opened the resulting space Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section of the caused by the hinges will be fully covered roller taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3; thereby preventing persons from getting Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspective view of their lingers in this opening or crack. This the interior of an automobile showing my 60 makes my device especially useful on autoroller in position; mobile doors and also around the house Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental sectional where small children are present. Serious view of a portion of an automobile showing injury has frequently resulted by persons the door open and illustrating the manner in riding in automobiles getting their fingers which the space between the door and door 65 in this opening and then having some one frame at the hinges is covered; forcibly slam the door when closing it. It Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the also frequently happens in homes where roller and the supporting casing therefor; small children are that a sudden draft will Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken close the door and mash the childs fingers, through the roller and casing; 70 but by the use of my device it will be im- Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section taken possible to get the fingers in this openin on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

A further object is to construct a shade Fig. 12 is a fragmental vertical section of roller of sheet metal and in which the fabric a portion of the casing showing the manner forming the shade is firmly secured, the of attaching the same to a door frame; 75 fabric also passing loosely around the Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective View of sprin s in the roller thereby deadening the, one of the retaining sockets; and sounds of the springs and making the opera- Fig. 14: is an enlarged perspective View of tion of the roller practically noiseless. one of the tongues which are adapted to fit A still further object is to construct a into the retaining sockets.

shade roller of sheet metal which is so In the construction of my device I employ arranged or made adjustable that the dia strip of sheet metal 15 which is preferably alneter of the roller at one end can be made noncorrosive and may be either of galvalarger than the diameter at the other end nized iron zinc, aluminum or other noncorthus giving a tapered roller. his makes roding material.

my shade and roller especially adaptable for The sheet 15 has its one edge bent over inautomobiles because the opening between the dicated by the numeral 16 so as to form a door and door frame at the hinges when the pocket 1". In the pocket 17 is inserted one door is opened is invariably much wider at edge of a strip of fabric 18. This fabric the bottom than at the top, and by having may be of various material. After the edge the roller tapered from one end to the other of the strip of fabric 18 is inserted, the por- I have found that the shade will roll up and tion 16 is pressed down tightly so as to bind unroll evenly. This is not possible where a the fabric and sheet metal strip together. It roller of equal diameter throughout is used. will be noted from Fig. 1 that the fabric 45 In the drawings: 18 is of less width than the sheet metal strip *ig. 1 is a plan view of the metal strip 15 so as-to leave a rejecting edge on each with the fabric placed thereon showing the side of the fabric. lifter the portion 16 has first step of construction: been thus pressed down, the strip 18 is fold- Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ed upon itself as illustrated in Figs. 2 and second step in the construction; 5 thus bringing two faces of fabric together.

After this foldin the resulting strip is again tightly pressed together. The strip 18 is then rolled so as to form a cylindrical member 19 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6 so that he cyli lrical member will have metal on he oi..-.ide, metal on the inside, and two i sses of fabric between these metallic rck: walls, the cylinder being left open on its top and bottom and also having a longitudinally extending opening 20, which is clearly shown in (3.

The loose portion or extending portion of fabric 18 is then pushed inside "tudinaliy extending opening 20 dotted lines in Fig. 6, after ich .11 d 22 secured in the ends of the cylindrical or tubular member 19. These caps arry a rod 253 which rod is provided at one end with a rectan ular projection this projection being similar to the projections on a shade roller.

Surrounding the rod 23 is a spring 25, which has one end 26 secured to the rod, the opposite end 27 being secured in the cap. The spring, however, surrounded by the fabric which has been inserted or pushed through the opening 20 so that it will be surrounded almost practically by a flexible casing of fabric and will not be permitted to contact with the inner metallic wall. It will be noted from 10 that I employ two springs, one for the top and one for the bottom. These springs may be placed under tension in any conventional manner and the projections 24; fitted into the plates 28 carried by the nousing 29.

The housing 29 is provided with a hinged door 30, which is preferably held in closed position by means of springs 31.

In the outer end of the fabric 18 is formed a loop 32 through which a rod 33 extends. This rod may be of any rigid material and serves to stiffen the outer edge of the fabric. The loop 32 may also be provided with tabs or with openings which are designed to be secured over buttons or other suitable fastening means 35, which are to be attached to the door.

The casing 37 is provided with a member 36, this member having a series of openings 37 therein. The member 36 is also provided at its upper end with a hook 38, which is designed o be hooked into a loop 39 carried by the door frame 40. This loop is to be placed in position first and regulates the height at which the upper end of the shade is positioned.

Along the edge of the door frame lO are placed a plurality of retaining sockets ll. These sockets are provided with openings 42 through which fastening means may be in serted to secure them in position and with a slot 413.

The retaining sockets are provided with a dovetailed slot 2% in which tongues 45 are adapted to fit. These tongues are provided with an opening 46 so that a screw or similar fastening means a? can be inserted through certain of the openings 37 in the portion 36 of the housing, pass through the slot 43, and enter the door frame 4-0. My purpose in providing the slot in the retaining socket is so that the screw l? can pass through the member 36, the tongue 45, the retaining socket 4:1, and into the door frame without the necessity of making an et-ztremely nice adjustment of the retaining socket. l have found it necessary to provide means, such as the spaced openings 37 in the member 36, to permit a certain amount adjustability vertically of the retaining tongues so that they will not interfere in any way with the hinges.

The installation of my device is as follows:

The first step to secure the strap or socket 39 in position and then regulate the position of the retaining sockets along the door frame or edge of the door in such a manner that their securing means will not interfere in any way with the hinges but will also be in certain alignment with the openings 37 in the member 36.

After these positions have been marked off, the housing 27 is removed and the retaining sockets secured in position. The housing is then again placed in its first position, the tongues 25 inserted in the retaining sockets, and then the screws or other fastening means i? driven home thus rigidly securing the housing in position.

The hinged door 30 is then opened and the roller together with the shade placed in position, it being understood, of course, that the springs at either end of the roller have been wound up so that they will have a tendency to cause the fabric to wind on the roller.

he fastening means are secured to the door and the tabs 3% secured thereto. and the device is ready for operation.

As the door 4:7 is opened, the fabric member 18 unrolls from the roller, as illustratml in Fig. 8, and stretches across the space l8 formed between the door fra us 40 and the door 47 and, being tautly stretched, prevents the ready entrance of fingers or hands into this opening, it being understood, course, that during the unrelling of the fabric from the roller additional tension will be set up in the springs and upon closing of these doors this tension will cause the roller to re-roll the fabric thereon.

When my advice is used to protect an opening which is of equal width from top t bottom, the caps 21. and 22 will be made of the same diameter so that the roller will be a true cylinder but where there is a difference in the length of hinges, such as is the case in automobiles where it is necessary to take care of the curvature of the body, this opening is much narrower at the top than at the bottom, and in this instance the cap 22 is made larger so that a tapering roller will result. in this way when unwinding the fabric, the bottom part of the roller, being of larger diameter, will permit more fabric to unwind on each revolution than the upper portion, even though the loop 32 be maintained in one position, and in rewinding the bottom portion will take up a proportionately greater amount of fabric on each revolution than the top. So, therefore, I obtain what may be termed a straight rolling of the fabric under all conditions.

In other words, I am enabled to draw a shade strai ht across an angularly-shaped opening without putting any twisting tendency on the fabric. This would not be possible where a straight cylindrical roller is used.

Another important feature of my device is that the shade is practically completely enclosed in a housing and when this housing is mounted in an automobile, as aforementioned, it provides with an extra hand grip for passengers while entering or leaving the car and prevents the passengers, needing such assistance, from rasping the doors and pulling themselves into the car, or letting themselves out thereby, and thus obviates the danger of springing such doors.

My improved shade and roller can readily be made in various widths so that it can be utilized in sleeping cars to stretch across the lower portion of the window and leave the upper portion unobstructed.

It can also be used as a ventilator for windows in homes and office buildings, in that it can be placed on one side of a window frame and stretched completely across the window, eliminating drafts but still, at the same time, permit air to freely enter the room thereby obviating the use of ordinary ventilators which are commonly placed underneath windows, or the plate lass which used in office buildings as a deflector to cause the current of air, which enters a raised window to be directed upwardly so to prevent this current of air from disturbing papers on the desk.

The shade, if desired, especially when be ing used as a ventilator, may be made of translucent material, such as pyralin or it may be made of screen or other porous material.

It is also obvious that by my construction the shade and the housing therefor can be made to harmonize with the interior finish of an automobil The housing being of metal construction may be either so painted as to harmonize with the interior finish or it may be covered with cloth, the same kind as is used for the interior construction or upholstery so that when my device is in position in an automobile it will conform with the interior finish of the vehicle.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is l. A safety shade comprising a hollow sheet metal roller having a longitudinal opening extending throughout its length, a sheet of fabric secured at one end to said roller and having a portion thereof extending into the interior of the roller, caps carried by the ends of said roller, and a winding spring carried by one of said caps, said spring being surrounded by the fabric projecting into the roller.

2. A safety shade comprising a hollow metal roller having a longitudinal opening extending throughout its length, a sheet of fabric secured at one end to said roller and having a portion thereof extending into the interior of the roller, caps carried by the ends of said roller, one of said caps being of greater diameter than the other whereby a tapering roller is formed, and a winding spring carried by one of said caps, said spring being surrounded by the fabric projecting into the roller.

3. A safety shade comprising a hollow metallic roller 2? filed of a double thickness of sheet metal and having a longitudinally extending opening therein throughout its length, a sheet of flexible material of 1 less width than the length of said roller carried thereby intermediate its ends, sheet of fabric being located between the double thickness of sheet metal and extending into the interior of said roller and therearound, caps for closing the ends of said roller, trunnions carried by said caps for supporting said roller, awinding soring carried by one of said trunnions, said spring being located within the roller and being supported by said flexible fabric for permitting contact between said spring and roller, and brackets adapted to secured adjacent each end of said roller for receiving said "runnions and preventing the same from turning whereby said roller is held in position and the tension on said spring is increased and decreased as the fabric unwinds and winds about said roller.

4. A safety shade comprising a hollow metallic roller formed of a double thickness of sheet metal and having a longitudinally extending opening therein throughout its length, a sheet of flexible material of less width than the length of said roller carried thereby intermediate its ends, said sh et of fabric being located between the double thickness of sheet metal and extending into the interior of said roller and therearound, caps'for closing the ends of said roller, one of said caps being of greater diameter than the other whereby a tapered roller is formed, trunnions carried by said caps for supportn turi ition and the terrier: on sri s ring is increased and deer 1e fabric unwinds and winds about said roller.

5. A safety e 1: sheet :neial relic ade comprisrig 2. hollow 1 V longitudinal having ompnns extending throughout "ts i .n' a 1D y .3 I a 1 i I o sl or some secur'ae at one end to said 1:01 er and having a poe ing into the lnterior o ricd by the ends oi said roller, a winding s carried by (ne of said caps said being surrounded by the fabrlc prosecuring said housing (5. A safety shade a hollow metallic roller thickness oi. sneet 1n n l. and having a longitudinally extending opening therein throughout its l. ngth, a sheet of flexible material of less th than the length of said roller carried ate its ends said sheet of comprising nested et-ween the double tl metal and extending into the interior oi Sal ruller and therezround, aps for closing the ends oi said roller,

trunnions Ct ried by paid caps for supporting said roller, a winding spring carried by said trunnicns, said spring being loatec within the roller and being supported by said flexible "fabric for permitting contact between said spring and roller brackets adapted to be secured adjacent each end of said roller for receiving said trunnions and preventing the same from turning whereby said roller is held in position and the tension on said spring is incrased and decreased as the fabric unwinds and winds about said roller, housing for said roller, and means for securing said housing in position.

7. A safety shade comprising a hollow metallic roller formed of a double thickness or" sheetinetal and having a longitudinally extending opening therein throughout its length, a sheet of flexible material of less width than the length of said roller carried thereby intermediate its ends, said sheet of fabric being located between the double thickness of sheet metal and extending into the interior of said roller and therearound, caps for closing the ends of said roller, one of said caps being of greater diameter than he other whereby tapered roller is formed, runnions carried by said caps for supper ing said roller, a winding spring carried by one of said trunnions, said spring being signature.

LOUIS ALEVEL. 

